Beaver Creek Fire Grows to 500 Acres

The Beaver Creek Fire on the Routt National Forest in Colorado, initially estimated at 75 acres in size Sunday evening, has since grown to 500 acres and is now being managed by a Type III incident team.

The fire is located roughly 20 miles northwest of Walden and three miles south of the Wyoming/Colorado state line between Beaver Creek and Rhea Creek in the Twisty Park area.It was first reported Sunday afternoon.

A news release from the U.S. Forest Service says 30 structures lie within a mile and a half of the fire, mainly along the 600 Road which runs from Pearl to the Big Creek Lakes Campground. Residents were given pre-evacuation notice by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department.

Concerned cabin owners or local residents can contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Department at 970-723-4242.

The Forest Service says more resources have been ordered to help deal with the wildfire which continues to burn in heavy timber with a high percentage of beetle kill in northwest Jackson County, Colo. The initial response to the fire included Forest Service and county engines.

Over 20 people along with multiple engines, three helicopters and two dozers were assigned to the fire Monday, and the Forest Service expects that number to grow in the coming days.

Forest Service law enforcement successfully located a vehicle of interest on Monday. Anyone with more information about suspicious activity in the area over the weekend can contact U.S. Forest Service Officer Hannah Nadeau at 307-343-2335.

The Forest Service says the safety of firefighters and the public is the top priority. Official updates on the fire are available via Inciweb.

Prescribed burns, fuels reduction measures and wildland-urban interface projects by the Forest Service and private landowners were focused on the nearby structures in recent years, according to the release.